2004 Harlan Estate Napa Valley California USA Wine Tasting Note

Just stunning in every sense, the wine balances extreme levels of power, concentration and elegance, which is hard to do. Very ripe, but not overripe, the fruit is dark, sweet, ostentatious and refined. The wine is never tiring, instead, it is enthralling to taste. Every sip provides another experience, and isn't that what all great wines do?

Just stunning in every sense, the wine balances extreme levels of power, concentration and elegance, which is hard to do. Very ripe, but not overripe, the fruit is dark, sweet, ostentatious and refined. The wine is never tiring, instead, it is enthralling to taste. Every sip provides another experience, and isn't that what all great wines do?

This is just great in every sense of the word. With a nose that shouts quite loudly about its smoke, incense, fruit cake, blackberry, port and black cherry aromatics, the wine is concentrated, full bodied, opulently textured, balanced and intense. Still youthful, yet definitively drinking well now, the finish is loaded with plush, opulently textured, ripe, dark fruits that really linger. I'm sure this is the wine of the vintage.

This is just great in every sense of the word. With a nose that shouts quite loudly about its smoke, incense, fruit cake, blackberry, port and black cherry aromatics, the wine is concentrated, full bodied, opulently textured, balanced and intense. Still youthful, yet definitively drinking well now, the finish is loaded with plush, opulently textured, ripe, dark fruits that really linger. I'm sure this is the wine of the vintage.

Served blind, there was no way a taster could avoid the mountain of silky pleasure in the glass. Licorice, smoke, black cherry, jam, espresso and earthy scents combined with lush, fat, perfectly ripe berries and a long, fresh, sensuous finish. Wow! This was probably decanted about 20 minutes before serving.

Served blind, there was no way a taster could avoid the mountain of silky pleasure in the glass. Licorice, smoke, black cherry, jam, espresso and earthy scents combined with lush, fat, perfectly ripe berries and a long, fresh, sensuous finish. Wow! This was probably decanted about 20 minutes before serving.

Deep in color with a flamboyant, expressive nose packed with licorice, black cherry, blackberry, coffee, smoke, earth, truffle and ripe, no make that very ripe berries. Powerful, rich, intense and packed with layers of ripe, juicy, mouth filling fruit, no hard edges and seamless, plush textures, this large scaled vintage of Harlan Estate is still young and demands more time in the cellar before it softens and fleshes out.

Deep in color with a flamboyant, expressive nose packed with licorice, black cherry, blackberry, coffee, smoke, earth, truffle and ripe, no make that very ripe berries. Powerful, rich, intense and packed with layers of ripe, juicy, mouth filling fruit, no hard edges and seamless, plush textures, this large scaled vintage of Harlan Estate is still young and demands more time in the cellar before it softens and fleshes out.